ELSIE MEEKS: Teachers invaluable link to success on reservation

Nov. 4, 2010

Written by

ELSIE MEEKS

Elsie Meeks is the state director of the USDA Rural Development in South Dakota. Prior to joining USDA, Meeks was the President/CEO of First Nations Oweesta Corporation and has over 20 years experience working for Native community economic development. Meeks and her husband Jim make their home on their ranch near Kyle on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

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I grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation and lived there most of my life except for a time when I lived on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming and a few towns in between such as Hot Springs and Custer.

My father was an alcoholic so we were in a near-constant state of upheaval. When we first moved off the reservation I was in the 7th grade. I had a sense that it was different living off than on the reservation. But it was not until I moved back did I really realize how different it is. I do not think there is any way to describe to people and have them fully understand what it is like to be Native and to live on a reservation. I am not saying that I fully understand as we had a mixed blood family - my mother was white.

But this much I know, whether you live off or on a reservation or are Native or non-native- a child must have love and nurture in the early years and in adolescence must have some realization and hope that there is a path for them or opportunities for them. In spite of my father's alcoholism we had early childhood love and nurture, but as I grew into adolescence I had no one to provide direction and seemingly there were not opportunities and so I began to drift emotionally and psychologically with no goals or sense of purpose for my life.

Occasionally, a teacher would pay some attention to me and show me in some way that I was “smart” and could learn, but overall my self-esteem was low so I did not believe I could ever succeed scholastically or achieve anything for that matter. My life might have been much different than it is now. I could have become a full-blown alcoholic or drug addict and, in fact, was headed in that direction for a time.

What stopped me? What made me change course? It was a few teachers along the way that took time and made me feel worthwhile and gave me a glimmer of hope that I was not stupid; it was an older sister that gave me some structure for a time; I became a Christian and learned that God had a plan for good for me. I started attending college and found out that I, indeed, was “smart.”

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Not overnight, but gradually my life improved. I can now say that I have been blessed beyond belief and have had and taken opportunities that I would never have dreamed would occur in my life. In fact, I am incredulous.

I was fortunate to be involved in the start-up and operation of the Lakota Fund, a small business development financial institution at Pine Ridge. The development of the Lakota Fund started in 1985 and we have learned many lessons in the twenty-five years. I have also had opportunities to serve on the boards of several outstanding national development organizations and to be appointed to the Unites States Commission on Civil Rights.

I was the CEO of a national organization that helps Tribes and Native communities all over the nation start “Lakota Fund-like” organizations. I am now blessed to have been appointed by the Obama Administration to be South Dakota State Director for USDA Rural Development.

Several times I have hosted national development organizations for site visits to Pine Ridge. On one occasion, I hosted Opportunity Finance Network. We toured the Reservation before ending at Kyle and meeting at the Lakota Fund. It was an eye-opening experience for them. Despite the beauty of the land, it was obvious that there was a lot of poverty.

During their visit we talked a lot about strategies that were being utilized by the Lakota Fund and other organizations at Pine Ridge. Strategies to increase financial management skills and help people start savings accounts, learn about entrepreneurship, homeownership, and start businesses; strategies to provide opportunities for self-sufficiency and wealth creation.

But, as we talked throughout this day and people de-briefed about the trip, I was posed a question from one of the participants, “Elsie, if you had a magic wand and could do one thing to change the reservation, what would you do?”

I thought for about twenty seconds. And then I surprised myself by saying that I would fix the school systems on the reservation. I would make sure that we had great teachers that could inspire and teach children and let them know the possibilities and let them know they have value.

I say I surprised myself because I have been deeply involved developing programs and strategies that provide financial opportunities and build financial and business skills. Don't get me wrong - these strategies (opportunities) are important, but children spend a large share of their life at school which should provide skills and help them down their life path.

Many times families are dysfunctional and parents have lost hope in their own lives let alone their children. The teachers that took time and gave me a glimmer of what I was capable of - I can now say - had an invaluable effect on my life.